by Michèle Shah
According to Coldiretti - the Italian farmers' organization - and the Italian Food & Wine Institute, Italian wine exports to the US grew by 8.5% during the first 8 months of 2006. If this trend continues, total exports for the year should
reach 2 million hectolitres, with a value of one billion dollars. Coldiretti believes that both the Italy s victory at the FIFA World Cup as well as the fact that Italian wine is seen as "very natural" (that is no chips allowed) have been positive factors for this growth. Italian wine now boast a share of 31% (up from 29.7%) of all wines imports into the US, ahead of Australia with 29% and France with 14%. With that the Americans now consume one fourth of all Italian wine exports in value. Italian wine sales represent a total 9 billion euros, of which 3 billion euros are done in export. Contact: www.coldiretti.it/>
